Washington is going all in on rare earths. (Latitude Media)
The Trump administration is taking direct stakes in mining firms like MP Materials and Lithium Americas and using the Defense Logistics Agency to stockpile critical minerals and stabilize prices.
Yes, but: Critics argue the approach overemphasizes mining while neglecting refining and processing, where China controls up to 90% of global capacity.
The bottom line: Without major investment in refineries and recycling, analysts say the US risks swapping one dependency for another.